1996 Boys Baseball Team

The 1996 DeWitt Baseball team finished the season with an impressive 33-9 record, eventually falling in the Class B State Championship game. After losing 12 seniors to graduation from a 35-4 squad that lost in the state quarterfinals in 1995, many people may have expected a rebuilding year. Instead, Coach Frank Deak’s team steadily gained experience and momentum on its way to another deep run in the state tournament. The combination of high-powered offense and a stingy defense allowed DeWitt to roll through the Ingham County League with a perfect 12-0 record, bringing home the program’s tenth consecutive conference championship. After cruising through Williamston and Stockbridge to capture the Class B District title, they outlasted a talented Corunna team 1-0 in a pitcher’s duel before taking the regional crown with a hard-fought 5-4 win over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern. The Panthers knocked off Gaylord 12-5 in the state quarterfinals to clinch a berth in the Class B Final Four. The boys defeated powerhouse Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, who had a 30-4 record, in a surprisingly lopsided 10-1 victory to earn a spot in the state final. Unfortunately, their dreams for a state championship were cut short with a heart-breaking 7-6 loss to Grandville Calvin Christian at Battle Creek’s C.O. Brown Stadium. The team was recognized by the Michigan High School Athletic Association as the “Good Sports Are Winners” Award recipients for the 1996 Baseball Finals. The 1996 DeWitt Boys Baseball team included the following members: Mike Ashley, Rob Bobeda, Aaron Colf, Matt Dodson, Ben Dorer, Ben Drayton, Brock Isanhart, Brian Kornhaus, Sean Merrill, Chris Rypstra, Trevor Seyka, Greg Smith, T.J. Stone, Jack Thompson, Brent Wardell, Brian Wardell, Kevin Zink, statistician Jill Black, Head Coach Frank Deak and assistant coaches Mike Ashley, Mark Simon and Larry Woodbury.